Adventure Time Comics #11 ComicWow! Review

This issue takes four Adventure Time stories and collects them in one hilarious issue. Each focuses on different characters in Ooo, and each is very different in style, plot, and tone.

The first story is called “Princess Rap Battle,” written and illustrated by: Jarrett Williams. In it, Flame Princess and Breakfast Princess are battling it out to see who’s got the best rhymes. Before the voting commences, Lumpy Space Princess (LSP) puts in her two cents and raps a song of her own, which doesn’t rhyme or compete even remotely with the rest in the competition.

The writing in this story isn’t that interactive between characters. The most tension we see is on stage between Flame Princess and Breakfast Princess. And even that isn’t all too much. We see some character interaction between LSP and Jake for a hot minute, but it’s very one-sided and doesn’t tell much of a story other than the fact that she can’t rap. The story ends with Flame Princess writing more rhymes about how she’s the best rapper in Ooo.

This is a really simple story that has simple artwork to accompany it. The art style in this story is most like the cartoon TV show. The characters are very animated, but pretty two-dimensional. The fact that they are rather cartoonish gives Williams the room to make them really expressive, and it shows. This is a great story that gathers the informal and hilarious concept of Adventure Time as a whole. It’s random and doesn’t make the most sense, but it sure as hell is entertaining!

The second story, “Chef BMO,” is written and illustrated by Grace Kraft. BMO is on a mission to become a chef, because it looks fun. Unfortunately, BMO has absolutely no idea how to cook. So, Finn and Jake tell BMO to do something they already know how to do. BMO fuses the two concepts and creates a video game about cooking!

BMO is an underrated character in the Adventure Time franchise. It’s a living video game console, I mean, that alone makes BMO one of the greatest characters. It’s an outlet, alarm clock, toaster, flashlight, strobe light, chef, tape player, soccer player, skateboarder, and most of all, a friend. BMO does a lot when no one is watching, has something along the lines of multiple personality disorder, and is a source of harmony between Finn and Jake. So, for Kraft to write a story entirely about BMO is refreshing.

The artwork in this story has barely any inking, but a lot of coloring. The line work isn’t done in black, which adds to the realism. However, the art style looks like something pulled right out of a sketch pad. It doesn’t look like the cartoon much, but shows us the same solid friendship that we see in the TV show.

The third story, “Laugh Cry Laugh,” is by Patsy Chen. When Marceline sucks the color out of Princess Bubblegum’s clothes, she has to find something to wear from the vampire’s wardrobe. While there, PB puts on a bracelet that makes her cry for 24 hours. She gives a public performance with it on, and Marceline has a big laugh about the whole situation. When Marceline has to buy PB new clothes, though, she is the one who feels like crying…

This artwork is more cartoonish than the rest, and an often time looks pretty undetailed as a result. However, the art style is also rather perfect for such a simple plot. This story tells us a lot about PB and Marceline. They’re friends, but they can still laugh at each other. It’s really easy to follow, and makes for a heartwarming storyline.

In the last story, “Feeling Peachy,” by Lucie Ebrey, our protagonist goes on an adventure for the legendary snack. Unfortunately, it isn’t what they thought it would be, so they went on an adventure for pretty much nothing.

This story also perfectly summarizes Adventure Time in a few pages—fun but weird. It’s a simple story that is fun to read, but doesn’t tell us much about its impact on Ooo or the Adventure Time franchise as a whole. The art style is a little gritty, which I love. It perfectly fits the tone of the piece, and makes for a really interesting read.

This issue is filled with a lot of fun, friendship, and of course, adventure. So many different takes on the franchise and the artwork therein make for a great look into the span of Adventure Time. When people start creating their own stories about it, it’s a good idea. Creator Patrick McHale has done a great job with this franchise as a whole, and issues like this are proof as to how big it has gotten.

Huck is ComicWow!'s editorial assistant and production assistant. He has a love for comic books on a cosmic scale and a growing knowledge of the industry. A Towson University alumnus, he brings with him a passion for writing, grammar, production, and other dorky stuff. He is a true nerd, and he embraces it.